A massive explosion rocked a key Russian oil depot in Oryol today, following a large-scale Ukrainian drone strike, as air defences scrambled to protect the vital energy facility
Sky lights up as air defences ‘sought to defend strategic oil depot’
A huge doomsday explosion lit up the sky over a key Russian oil depot in a mass drone strike by Ukraine today.
The Steel Horse facility supplies Vladimir Putin’s armed forces, but also links to the Druzhba pipeline which sends Russian oil to Europe. It was reported ablaze after a concerted attack with Russia claiming to have shot down 20 drones over the Oryol region, where the depot is located.
Footage from the attack showed the sky light up in vivid apocalyptic yellow and orange colours as air defences sought to defend the strategic oil depot.
This isn’t the first time the giant oil dept has been targeted. It’s been struck at least three times previously, including a successful strike one week ago when a fire burned for several days.
Separate Ukrainian strikes recently have homed in on supply bases for the Druzhba pipeline which is key to oil supplies for Hungary and Slovakia, both of which have opposed military aid and NATO membership for Ukraine.
The Governor of Oryol region Andrey Klychkov spoke of a “massive enemy UAV attack”, urging people to “please remain calm”. He said: “The attack is still ongoing. There is currently no information on casualties or injuries. Emergency services are already on-site and are taking measures to extinguish the fire.”
The Russian defence ministry said: ”Last night an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using unmanned aerial vehicles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped.” Some 34 drones were allegedly halted over the Moscow region.
A few days ago, the Mirror reported a Russian tower block containing dozens of families exploded under a mass attack from Ukrainian drones. Horrifying footage showed the moment the aircraft-type drone struck the 37-floor Azure Skies elite residential tower in Kazan. Another tower block – the 23-floor Manhattan residential building in central Kazan – was also hit.
Earlier this month NATO fighter jets were scrambled in response to a devastating Russian attack on Ukraine. Vladimir Putin used strategic bombers and modern warplanes to unleash terror on Ukrainian energy and military facilities. The attack also led to major power cuts in the capital Kyiv, plunging civilians into darkness ahead of the festive season.
NATO’s jets were scrambled in Poland and along the Alliance’s eastern flank in response. The offensive had been expected, with Putin warning “a response will follow” after Ukraine attacked Russia with US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
